Young Hispanics Most Likely To Be Uninsured

Hispanic young adults ages 20-29 are less likely than their non-Hispanic peers to have health insurance, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. More than half (54%) of Hispanics in their 20s were uninsured in 2009, compared to 34% of non-Hispanic Blacks and 24% of non-Hispanic Whites.

Only a third (33%) of Hispanic young adults had private health insurance, compared to 43% of non-Hispanic Blacks and 66% of non-Hispanic Whites. Lack of insurance has a significant impact on how often people visit the doctor and whether they have a consistent source of medical care.

Most young adults with health insurance — whether private or through Medicaid — had regular doctors or other sources of routine medical care, with little variation by race/ethnicity. Among the uninsured, Hispanics (33%) were  less likely than non-Hispanic Blacks (40%) or Whites (47%) to have regular sources of medical care.

Overall, six in 10 Hispanic young adults (61%) had visited doctors at least once in the preceding year, compared to 76% of both non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks. [Healthcare/Medical, Insurance, Emerging Majorities, Youth]

Source: “Young Adults Seeking Medical Care: Do Race and Ethnicity Matter?” NCHS Data Brief No. 55, January 2011, National Center for Health Statistics, 3311 Toledo Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20782; 800-232-4636; cdcinfo@cdc.gov; www.cdc.gov/nchs. Price: Available online, free of charge.

© Copyright 2011, EPM Communications, Inc. May not be reproduced without written consent of publisher.

 

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